Coaching Staff

James Franklin: Head Coach

Pennsylvania State University has selected James Franklin, a Pennsylvania native who is one of the nation's most successful and dynamic coaches, as the 16th head football coach in its storied 127-year history.

Bob Shoop: Defensive Coordinator, Safeties Coach

Shoop brings 25 years of collegiate coaching experience back to his home state. A native of Oakmont, Pa., Shoop spent the last three years at Vanderbilt as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach, helping the Commodores finish among the nation's Top 25 in total defense every season

John Donovan: Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends Coach

Donovan served as the offensive coordinator/running backs coach during three of the most productive offensive seasons in Vanderbilt history from 2011-13. Entering his 18th year in coaching, he began his coaching career at Georgia Tech (1998-2000) and Villanova (1997).

Josh Gattis: Offensive Recruiting Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach

Gattis has made an immediate impact in coaching after earning All-ACC honors as a safety at Wake Forest and spending two seasons playing with the NFL's Chicago Bears.

Herb Hand: Offensive Line/Run Game Coordinator

Hand is entering his 24th season in college coaching. He spent the last four seasons coaching the offensive line at Vanderbilt, adding run game coordinator duties in 2013.

Brent Pry: Assistant Head Coach, Co-Def. Coordinator/Linebackers

A native of Altoona, Pa., 40 miles from State College, Pry's coaching career has spanned 21 years and began during Franklin's final two seasons as an All-PSAC quarterback at East Stroudsburg. Pry has helped each program he's coached at to success, including nine bowl appearances.

Ricky Rahne: Quarterbacks Coach

Rahne (Ron-E) made an impression on Franklin when they coached together Kansas State in 2006-07, joining the Vanderbilt staff as quarterbacks coach in 2011. His passing attacks helped wide receivers set SEC records and running backs post a pair of 1,000-yard seasons over the past three years.

Sean Spencer: Defensive Line Coach

Spencer has experience on both sides of the ball during his 18 seasons as a collegiate coach, but he has been exclusively helping build strong defensive units since 2001. In three years on Franklin's staff at Vanderbilt, his defensive lines helped the Commodores finish in the Top 25 in total defense all three years. .

Dwight Galt: Director of Performance Enhancement

In 25 years at the collegiate level, Galt has helped produce numerous NFL prospects and nearly 40 former athletes he helped train are active in the National Football League. Galt worked with Franklin at Maryland, where he spent 22 years, before joining him at Vanderbilt in 2011.